Plant Operations Manager – Automotive Manufacturing (Greenfield Site)
Location: Basildon, Essex (On-site)
Salary: Competitive + benefits
Overview
We are supporting an established European manufacturing business as they launch a new UK production facility in Basildon. This is a greenfield site, replicating a successful operation in Italy, focused on plastic injection moulding and associated finishing processes (including painting) for the automotive sector.
This is a key hire who will play a pivotal role in setting up, stabilising, and scaling the plant from the ground up.
The Role
As Plant Operations Manager, you will take ownership of the day-to-day operational setup and running of the facility, ensuring readiness for production and supporting long-term growth.
You will work closely with international stakeholders (Italy HQ) and be instrumental in building the UK team and operational capability.
Key Responsibilities
Site Setup & Readiness
* Support final stages of site preparation and operational readiness
* Coordinate installation of production machinery (target June–July)
* Ensure the plant is fully operational for production go-live (target September)
Operations Management
* Oversee day-to-day plant operations, ensuring efficiency, quality, and safety
* Implement processes aligned with the existing Italian operation
* Drive continuous improvement across production, workflow, and output
Team Build & Leadership
* Lead initial hiring of ~10 staff, scaling to ~30+ over time
* Build and develop a high-performing production team
* Establish a strong on-site culture and operational discipline
Stakeholder Coordination
* Act as the key UK contact for the Italian HQ
* Ensure alignment on processes, standards, and timelines
* Support knowledge transfer between sites
Candidate Profile
Essential
* Proven experience in a Plant Manager / Operations Manager / Production Manager role
* Strong background in automotive manufacturing environments
* Experience in setting up or scaling manufacturing operations (greenfield or expansion highly desirable)
* Hands-on, operational mindset – comfortable being on the shop floor
* Experience with team building and hiring
Desirable
* Experience with plastic injection moulding
* Exposure to painting or finishing processes
* Experience working with international teams or parent companies
Why Join?
* Opportunity to build a manufacturing site from scratch
* High level of autonomy and ownership
* Long-term growth as the site scales over the coming years
* Work with an established international business entering the UK market
Timeline Context (for candidates)
* Site currently under construction
* Machinery installation: Summer 2026 (June–July)
* Production go-live: ~September 2026